Evoke Greatness Podcast

Sonnie Linebarger
  • 4.9 (72)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Do you have an insatiable hunger for growth, knowledge, and elevating how you show up in business and in life? Are you curious how high-performing leaders think, operate, and navigate the real challenges that come with building, scaling, and leading? I’m Sonnie Linebarger, CEO and host of Evoke Greatness… a top 2% globally ranked business and leadership podcast fueled by curiosity, performance, and a deep fascination with the psychology behind great leadership. I’m a book nerd, a bit of a control enthusiast, and someone who believes that success is built as much internally as it is externally. On this podcast, we go beyond strategy. We explore the real conversations behind leadership, the decisions, the pressure, the growth, and the personal development required to execute at the highest level. We share the highs and lows and everything in between… because building something meaningful will stretch you in ways nothing else can. My hope is that something you hear resonates deeply, challenges how you think, and reminds you that you’re not in this alone. I believe that a rising tide raises all ships and I invite you along in this journey to Evoke Greatness!

  1. Jun 2

    What Your Brain Does Before Greatness | Dr. Izzy Justice on Flow, Fear & Peak Performance (Part 1)

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Ep 212: What Your Brain Does Before Greatness | Dr. Izzy Justice on Flow, Fear & Peak Performance (Part 1) There is a moment right before the swing, before the speech, before the decision that changes everything. And in those seconds, your brain is either working for you — or against you. Dr. Izzy Justice has spent his career studying exactly that moment. As Chief Neuroscience Officer at Neuro580 and one of the world's leading sports neuroscientists, Dr. Izzy has conducted over 18,000 EEG brain scans during live performance, certified 300+ coaches worldwide, and worked with elite athletes who have gone on to win Olympic medals and major championships. He's also coached more than 30 CEOs — because it turns out the neuroscience of a golfer about to sink a putt and a leader about to make a high-stakes decision look remarkably similar. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we go deep into the science of peak performance — and what's really happening in your brain in the moments that matter most. What You'll Learn in This Episode: The 10 Hz discovery — Why the brain's "sweet spot" for peak performance is closer to sleep than to excitement, and what that means for how you train your mindWhy "confidence" isn't real — Dr. Izzy breaks down what confidence, flow, and focus actually are neurologically (and why our language around performance is holding us back)Sensory amplification & access — The two things that happen in your brain at 10 Hz that explain why elite performers "see the basket bigger" and "remember exactly the right thing" under pressureThe trauma-performance connection — Why our brain is biased toward storing negative experiences, and how unresolved trauma is silently capping your performance ceilingThe NASCAR driver case study — A vivid real-world example of how a single traumatic event rewired a champion's brain for two years — and what it took to reverse itFlow vs. fear on an EEG — Can you actually see the neurological difference? (Yes. And the answer will surprise you.)Why the brain prioritizes negative memories — It's not a flaw. It's a survival design. But in the modern world, it may be your biggest performance liability.About Dr. Izzy Justice: Dr. Izzy Justice is the Chief Neuroscience Officer at Neuro580 and a pioneer in the field of sports neuroscience. He has conducted over 18,000 EEG brain scans during live athletic performance, certified more than 300 coaches worldwide, and coached elite athletes across multiple sports — many of whom have gone on to win championships and Olympic medals. He is the creator of Neurohacks, rapid science-backed techniques designed to remove mental distractions and access flow in real time. Beyond sports, Dr. Izzy has worked with 30+ CEOs and dozens of Chief People Officers. He is the author of 10 books, including his most recent bestseller Life Explained. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Izzy Justice: https://drizzyjustice.com/ A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    33 min

  2. May 20

    How to Organize Your Life, Protect Your Energy and Put Yourself Back on the List | Lisa Woodruff (Pt. 2)

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Ep. 211 How to Organize Your Life, Protect Your Energy and Put Yourself Back on the List | Lisa Woodruff (Pt. 2) You started Part 1 understanding the weight you've been carrying. Now it's time to put it down. In Part 2 of this conversation, Lisa Woodruff is back and we are going deeper. We're talking about the practical, no-excuses systems that will change how your home runs — and how you show up everywhere else because of it. We're talking about the invisible projects piling up in your corners, your closets, and your mind. And we're talking about something most women never do: organizing their own room first. If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, go back and start there. Then come right back. In This Episode, You'll Learn: 💡 Why your disorganized home is creating a quiet fraud complex at work — and how to fix it💡 The generational conversation you need to have about stuff — and how to make it land with love💡 Why it's always easier to organize someone else's space than your own (and what that's really telling you)💡 Lisa's 24-hour rule that will stop half-finished projects from taking over your life💡 The permission slip you didn't know you needed: abandon what you're no longer going to do💡 Why organizing your own bedroom first is one of the most powerful acts of self-leadership💡 What Lisa's upcoming book Escaping Quicksand gives women that they haven't been able to give themselves✨ Pull Quotes "I am successful at work. Put me in the board meeting, I can do it. And I come home and I don't even want to go home." "When you're at work and somebody needs information, it's — call mom in the middle of a meeting." "Ladies, go organize your own bedroom. We spend every weekend doing it for our kids and guess what we have to do next weekend? Their rooms again." "Just do it. No one is going to stop you, and no one is going to give you permission." 🔗 Connect with Lisa: Website: organize365.comPodcast: Organize 365Instagram: @organized365Resources & Links Mentioned 📚 The Mindset of Organization by Lisa Woodruff📚 Escaping Quicksand by Lisa Woodruff (coming soon)A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    24 min

  3. May 12

    How to Stop Drowning in Clutter and Reclaim Your Mental Clarity | Lisa Woodruff (Pt. 1)

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Ep. 210 How to Stop Drowning in Clutter and Reclaim Your Mental Clarity | Lisa Woodruff (Pt. 1) 📝 Show Notes What does the pile of paper on your counter have to do with your capacity to lead? More than you think. Lisa Woodruff is the founder of Organize 365 and author of the upcoming book Escaping Quicksand. She has spent decades helping women build functional systems for their homes and lives. And she is quick to say: organization is not about color-coded bins. It is about reclaiming the mental capacity you have been quietly losing one postponed decision at a time. In Part 1, Lisa and Sonnie dig into why the most capable women are often the most buried at home, why decluttering alone keeps you stuck in a cycle, and the identity work that has to happen before any system can stick. 🔍 In This Episode We Cover: Why high-achieving women often sink the fastest into organizational overwhelmThe difference between decluttering and organizing, and why confusing them keeps you stuckHow identity and emotion get wrapped around our stuffWhat decision fatigue and executive function have to do with a messy homeWhy Pinterest-perfect organization often makes the real problem worseThe 3-step starter system for any room when you don't know where to begin🔑 Key Takeaways: Quicksand accumulates one postponed decision at a time. It is not a reflection of your intelligence or your worthDecluttering is a tool, not a solution. Used alone, it creates a cycle of purge and reaccumulateFunctional organization always beats aesthetic organization. A system no one can use is not a systemGetting organized in a new season requires new skills. What worked before may not serve where you are going🔗 Resources: Book pre-order + bonus book club:EscapingQuicksand.comWebsite:Organize365.comA rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    28 min

  4. Apr 28

    Dominance vs. Prestige, Human Skills, and the Science of Leadership Influence | Dr. Benjamin Granger (Pt. 2)

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode 209: Dominance vs. Prestige, Human Skills, and the Science of Leadership Influence | Dr. Benjamin Granger (Pt. 2) 📝 Show Notes What does evolutionary biology have to do with your leadership style? More than you think. In Part 2 of this conversation, Sonnie and Dr. Benjamin Granger go deeper into the science of leadership, from the two paths humans use to gain social status, to why your physical environment shapes behavior in ways you never see coming. Benjamin unpacks the difference between dominance and prestige as competing leadership strategies, and makes a compelling case for why prestige-based leadership is not just the ethical choice, it is the most effective one for navigating the future of work. They explore why humans are far more susceptible to their environments than they want to believe, why negative feedback is actually a sign of a healthy team, and what science says about the direct and indirect ways leaders shape behavior every single day. One concept from this episode will stop you cold: choice architecture. Every leader is designing the decision environment around their team whether they know it or not. The question is whether they are doing it intentionally. Benjamin closes with a final piece of wisdom from Stephen Hawking that will stay with you long after the episode ends. 🔍 In This Episode We Cover: The two evolutionary paths to social status and what they reveal about your leadership styleWhy dominance-based leadership is still alive in modern organizations and what it costsHow environments shape behavior gradually, and why no leader is immuneWhy negative feedback from your team is actually good newsThe body language habits that silently signal whether people feel heardWhy human skills and metacognitive skills are the most critical leadership capabilities in the age of AIWhat choice architecture means and how every leader is using it whether they realize it or notWhy the physical environment of your workplace sends a message louder than your values statement🔑 Key Takeaways: Leaders who earn followership through prestige outperform those who rely on dominance, especially in times of uncertainty and changeNo one is immune to their environment. The most self-aware leaders ask: is this environment healthy for me?Negative feedback means your team trusts you. Silence should concern you far moreHard skills are being commoditized. The ability to learn, adapt, and lead through ambiguity is what differentiates the best leaders nowEvery policy, artifact, and physical space in your organization is a form of leadership communicationMankind's greatest achievements have come about by talking. Its greatest failures by not talking. (Stephen Hawking) 🔗 Connect with Dr. Benjamin Granger: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-granger-7147991b/Website: https://benjamingranger.comA rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    40 min

  5. Apr 21

    Becoming a Leader Worth Following | Dr. Benjamin Granger (Part 1)

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode 208: Becoming a Leader Worth Following | Dr. Benjamin Granger (Part 1) 📝 Show Notes What separates a leader people genuinely want to follow from one they simply tolerate? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Sonnie sits down with Dr. Benjamin Granger, organizational psychologist and author of A Leader Worth Following, to explore the human side of leadership that most managers never learn in a training room. Benjamin traces how a lifelong curiosity about human behavior led him into organizational psychology, and why that same curiosity is the single most underrated skill in any leader's toolkit. Together, they unpack how leaders shape organizational culture every single day, not through big speeches or annual reviews, but through presence, communication style, and the micro-environments they create in every meeting, conversation, and decision. From meeting dynamics to psychological safety in the workplace, this episode breaks down why talented team members stay silent, and what high-performing leaders do differently to unlock trust, contribution, and better collective thinking. The core insight of this episode: leadership effectiveness isn't about being the loudest voice in the room. It's about creating the conditions for others to use theirs. 🔍 In This Episode We Cover: What organizational psychology reveals about effective leadershipWhy employees stay silent in meetings and what it signals about cultureHow leadership behaviors shape team culture in everyday interactionsHow to build psychological safety on your team and why it drives performanceThe power of asking better leadership questionsWhy nonverbal communication and body language often speak louder than words🔑 Key Takeaways: Curiosity is one of the most critical and most overlooked leadership skillsLeaders influence organizational culture through daily micro-interactions, not just big momentsSilence in team meetings is almost always a leadership signal, not an employee problemThe best leaders ask intentional questions, then actually listen to the answersPsychological safety in the workplace is a performance driver, not a soft skillNonverbal cues shape how your message lands, often more than the words themselves🔗 Connect with Dr. Benjamin Granger: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-granger-7147991b/Website: https://benjamingranger.com/Book: A Leader Worth FollowingA rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    28 min

  6. Apr 14

    How to Find Your Voice at Work and Stop Playing Small, with Minda Harts (Part 2)

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode 207: How to Find Your Voice at Work and Stop Playing Small, with Minda Harts (Part 2) What is staying quiet at work actually costing you? Not just the missed moment… But the opportunity, the growth, the confidence, and the standard you’re setting for what you’re willing to tolerate. In Part 1 of this conversation, I sit down with Minda Harts to unpack the hidden cost of silence… and why so many high-performing leaders find themselves navigating environments where speaking up feels risky. From early career experiences of inequity and internal conflict… to the realization that silence carries a cost just as real as speaking up… this conversation will challenge how you think about your voice, your agency, and your responsibility in the rooms you’re in. Because staying quiet doesn’t keep things neutral… it shapes everything. We explore: The real cost of staying silent at work and how it impacts your career growth, confidence, and leadership presenceHow to speak up with confidence in high-stakes workplace conversations without damaging relationships or credibilityWhy trust issues at work are often communication breakdowns and how unmet expectations quietly erode performance and cultureThe power of self-advocacy and personal agency in leadership, especially for women navigating visibility, influence, and growthHow using your voice creates permission for others, shaping team culture, trust, and psychological safety🔑 Key takeaways: Staying quiet doesn’t protect you… it positions you exactly where you areThe conversations you avoid are often the ones that unlock your next levelTrust is built or broken in the smallest moments… not the biggest onesYou don’t need permission to advocate for yourself… but you do need courageEvery time you stay silent, you reinforce the standard you’re willing to acceptQuotes to remember: “If I don’t say anything, that’s a cost. If I do say something, that’s a cost too.”“My voice is tied to someone else’s freedom.”“We have more power than we think we do.”“Silence doesn’t keep things neutral… it shapes everything.”“The standard you accept becomes the culture you experience.”🔗 Connect with Minda: Website: www.mindaharts.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/mindahartsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindaharts/A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    24 min

  7. Apr 7

    Why Speaking Up at Work Is Harder for Some Leaders, with Minda Harts (Part 1)

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode 206: Why Speaking Up at Work Is Harder for Some Leaders, with Minda Harts Part 1 What is staying quiet at work actually costing you? Not just the missed moment…  But the opportunity, the growth, the confidence, and the standard you’re setting for what you’re willing to tolerate. In Part 1 of this conversation, I sit down with Minda Harts, Author of Talk to Me Nice: The Seven Trust Languages for a Better Workplace, to unpack the hidden cost of silence, and why so many high-performing leaders find themselves navigating environments where speaking up feels risky. From early career experiences of inequity and internal conflict, to the realization that silence carries a cost just as real as speaking up, this conversation will challenge how you think about your voice, your agency, and your responsibility in the rooms you’re in. Because staying quiet doesn’t keep things neutral… it shapes everything. We explore: The real cost of staying silent at work and how it impacts your career growth, confidence, and leadership presence How to speak up with confidence in high-stakes workplace conversations without damaging relationships or credibilityWhy trust issues at work are often communication breakdowns and how unmet expectations quietly erode performance and culture The power of self-advocacy and personal agency in leadership, especially for women navigating visibility, influence, and growthHow using your voice creates permission for others, shaping team culture, trust, and psychological safety 🔑 Key takeaways: Staying quiet doesn’t protect you… it positions you exactly where you areThe conversations you avoid are often the ones that unlock your next levelTrust is built or broken in the smallest moments… not the biggest onesYou don’t need permission to advocate for yourself… but you do need courageEvery time you stay silent, you reinforce the standard you’re willing to acceptQuotes to remember: “If I don’t say anything, that’s a cost. If I do say something, that’s a cost too.” “My voice is tied to someone else’s freedom.” “We have more power than we think we do.” “Silence doesn’t keep things neutral… it shapes everything.”“The standard you accept becomes the culture you experience.”🔗 Connect with Minda: Website: www.mindaharts.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/mindahartsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindaharts/A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    25 min

  8. Mar 31

    The Leadership Trap Nobody Warns You About (and How to Break Out of It) | Sonnie Linebarger

    Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Ep. 205  The Leadership Trap Nobody Warns You About (and How to Break Out of It)  | Sonnie Linebarger Are you feeling stuck at your current level in business or leadership… even though you’re working harder than ever? In this episode, we break down leadership growth, decision-making, and the psychology behind why high performers plateau, and what it actually takes to reach the next level. 🔥 EPISODE OVERVIEW In this episode of Evoke Greatness, Sonnie Linebarger dives into one of the most overlooked truths in business and leadership… what made you successful early on may be the very thing holding you back today. This episode goes beyond surface-level strategy and into the real work of leadership… the decisions you’re avoiding, the habits that no longer serve you, and the psychology that shapes how you show up under pressure. If you’re building, leading, and carrying the weight of real decisions, this conversation will challenge how you think, lead, and execute. 💡 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Why leadership growth requires letting go, not just doing moreHow decision fatigue and cognitive load impact leadership performanceThe psychology behind avoidance and delayed decision-makingWhy what you tolerate becomes your culture in business and leadershipHow to shift from operator to CEO-level thinking and ownershipThe leadership habits that become bottlenecks as you scale🧠 KEY INSIGHT You don’t rise to the level of your goals… you fall to the level of your conditioning. 🔑 POWERFUL MOMENTS / QUOTES “What gets you here won’t keep you here.”“Growth is not just about adding more… it’s about letting go of what no longer serves you.”“Your business will only grow as much as you do.”“What you tolerate becomes your culture.”“You become a CEO the moment you take full ownership.”🎯 YOUR CHALLENGE What is the one decision you already know you need to make? Not five things. Not a full overhaul. One. Act on it within the next 24 hours. 👤 WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR CEOs, founders, and executives navigating growth and leadership pressureLeaders experiencing decision fatigue or feeling stuck at the next levelHigh performers ready to elevate their mindset, execution, and resultsAnyone serious about taking ownership of their business, career, or life🚀 FINAL THOUGHT Better business doesn’t come from more strategy… It comes from becoming the leader your next level requires. 🔎 KEYWORDS Leadership development, executive leadership, business leadership, leadership mindset, high performance habits, decision-making, CEO mindset, emotional intelligence, leadership psychology, business growth, scaling leadership, personal development for leaders A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness! On a health journey too? Join me as I navigate Hashimoto's and Perimenopause like a BEAST 🔥 Rho Discount Code: https://rhonutrition.com/SONNIE15 Meraki Discount Code: http://www.merakimedicinal.com/EVOKEGREATNESS Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com Follow me on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/ https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evoke.greatness http://www.youtube.com/@evokegreatness

    14 min
See All (212)

4.9
out of 5
72 Ratings

About

Do you have an insatiable hunger for growth, knowledge, and elevating how you show up in business and in life? Are you curious how high-performing leaders think, operate, and navigate the real challenges that come with building, scaling, and leading? I’m Sonnie Linebarger, CEO and host of Evoke Greatness… a top 2% globally ranked business and leadership podcast fueled by curiosity, performance, and a deep fascination with the psychology behind great leadership. I’m a book nerd, a bit of a control enthusiast, and someone who believes that success is built as much internally as it is externally. On this podcast, we go beyond strategy. We explore the real conversations behind leadership, the decisions, the pressure, the growth, and the personal development required to execute at the highest level. We share the highs and lows and everything in between… because building something meaningful will stretch you in ways nothing else can. My hope is that something you hear resonates deeply, challenges how you think, and reminds you that you’re not in this alone. I believe that a rising tide raises all ships and I invite you along in this journey to Evoke Greatness!

Information

  • Creator
    Sonnie Linebarger
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    212
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Evoke Greatness Podcast
  • Show Website
    Evoke Greatness Podcast

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